The Night Manager: Episode 6

When you have a suspicion about something, you try and confirm it. That is exactly what Roper did in this, the last episode in the series. As expected it was too little, too late.

With barely any resources at her fingertips, Angela Burr finally outsmarted Richard Roper. Watching Roper’s final realisation as his house of cards toppled was delicious. His arrogance up to the last minute made it all the more sweeter.

I was convinced that Jed’s betrayal would lead to her death, thankfully that wasn’t the case. With some careful footwork and some fortuitous timing, she was saved just as Roper’s deal was going up in smoke.

What surprised me most was the secret source inside Angela’s team. His few lines were enough to show what he had done and who’s side he was on. It was a pity that the senior members of MI6 didn’t suffer the same fate but I guess you can’t have everything.

From the start the acting was excellent. Olivia Colman’s portrayal as a woman under siege felt human. You too would feel harrassed and betrayed as your enemies, former friends, pulled the rug from under you. From there it only got better.

Tom Hiddleston’s performance as Pine/Birch was fascinating. Using friends he had not seen in years, Pine turned the tables on Roper. A clandestine meeting followed by a late night drive set in place a plan which would see Roper ruined in front of a client. As the deal went sour, Hugh Laurie’s skill as an actor shone through. The mixture of vexation and haughtiness was wonderful to watch.

There has been a suggestion that this series was a perfect audition for Hiddleston’s potential hiring as James Bond. There were many similarities including playing roulette (a convenient plot device to pass a code to Pine) so I can see why people would think this. While it is not up to me to decide who should play Bond, it would make a refreshing change to see Hiddleston in the role.

In conclusion, after watching this series, I find myself wondering what accolades it will win. One more thing, I had better add another John Le Carre novel to my collection.